Belt buckle



April 18, 1939. .1. B. PlcKELslMER 2,154,598

BELT BUCKLE Filed OCt. 16, 1956 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 16, 1936, Serial No. 105,998

1 Claim.

This invention relates to belt buckles and has for an object to provide a novel buckle which will include a hinged spring pressed cover for concealing the frame and the tongue of the buckle and which may be monogrammed or initialed if desired to present a decorative appearance,

A further object is to provide a belt buckle of this type which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claim Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a front elevation of a belt equipped with a belt buckle constructed in accordance with the invention and shown in applied position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the belt buckle taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a. rear elevation of the belt buckle.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the belt buckle taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross section of the belt buckle taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the buckle similar to Figure 5 but showing the cover rocked open to an angle of 90 degrees.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, I designates the frame of the buckle the same being substantially oblong and comprising longitudinal bars II and I2, end bars 40 I3 and I 4, and a cross bar I5 centered between the end bars. A tongue I6 is provided with a hinge eye I'I which encircles a reduced neck I8 of the cross bar. The tongue is of sufficient length to be received in a groove I9 in the end bar I4.

A cover 2D is provided and comprises a substantially oblong plate 2l having a peripheral flange 22 adapted to engage over and conceal the longitudinal bars and the end bars of the buckle frame, as best shown in Figure 5. The flange is provided 50 on the inner side of the top thereof with hinge eyes 23 which align with similar hinge eyes 24 that project from the upper longitudinal frame bar II of the buckle. A pintle 25 is passed through the aligned hinge eyes of the cover and of the buckle frame to pivotally secure the cover to the buckle frame so that it may be rocked open through an angle of 90 degrees as best shown in Figure 6, in which position the flange 22 of the cover engages the rear side of the upper longitudinal frame bar II of the buckle and prevents further opening movement of the cover.

A helical spring 26 is sleeved upon the pintle and the opposite ends of the spring are engaged against the upper frame bar, and against the inner side of the peripheral flange 22 as shown respectively rat 2'I and 28 in Figure 5. The spring is tensioned by opening movement of the cover to return the cover to closed position as soon as the cover is released.

The cover 20 may be provided with the initials of the wearer, as shown at 29 in Figure 1, or may be monogrammed or provided with any desired decoration that will lend a pleasing ornamental appearance to the cover.

In practice, the belt 36 is provided at one end With a loop 3| which encircles the cross bar I5 of the buckle and at the opposite end is provided with the usual perforations 32 to receive the tongue I6 of the buckle, in the usual manner. The cover 20 is rocked open While the belt is being tightened or loosened, to alford access to the tongue I6 and as soon as the belt has been adjusted the cover is released whereupon the spring 26 immediately returns the cover to closed position in which position the buckle is completely concealed as will be seen by referring to Figure 1.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a buckle, of a buckle cover having a peripheral iiange, spaced hinge eyes on the inner face of the flange, a pintle carried by said eyes and engaging the cover for hinging the cover to a buckle, and a helical spring sleeved on the pintle between the eyes for normally holding the cover closed, said flange projecting beyond the pintle and being adapted to engage the buckle and form a stop to limit opening movement of the cover, one side of the flange and the ends of the flange being adapted to overlap the front side and the ends of the buckle and conceal the buckle.

JESSE B. PICKELSIMER. 

